- $35South Rim, per vehicle, 7 days
- $67West Rim General Admission
- $99All-Access Pass with Skywalk
- $100Non-resident park surcharge (2026)
- $0Value of a park pass at the Skywalk
Two Ticket Systems, One Confusing Name
The single most expensive mistake at the Grand Canyon is buying the right ticket for the wrong canyon.
The Grand Canyon has two completely separate ticket systems. The South Rim, inside Grand Canyon National Park, costs $35 per vehicle. The West Rim — Grand Canyon West, where the Skywalk is — costs $67 to $99 per person. A National Park pass does not work at the West Rim, and a West Rim ticket does not work at the national park. There is no standalone Skywalk-only ticket any more — the Skywalk comes bundled into a pass, normally the $99 All-Access Pass. For visitors coming from Las Vegas, the West Rim is the smarter day trip — two and a half hours away rather than four and a half, and with no $100 non-resident surcharge.
Prices below are current for the 2025/26 season. West Rim prices are quoted plus tax and fees — the $99 pass comes to roughly $113 all-in — and they move seasonally, so confirm on the official sites before you pay. If you already know you want the West Rim, our Skywalk tickets and prices guide goes deeper on that single pass, and the West Rim vs South Rim comparison covers what you actually see at each.
The Fundamental Confusion
Two authorities, two jurisdictions, two price lists, 4.5 hours apart — and no reciprocity whatsoever.
Grand Canyon National Park
Federally managed by the National Park Service. Includes the South Rim and the seasonal North Rim. This is where the $35 vehicle fee and the America the Beautiful pass apply.
Grand Canyon West
Owned and operated by the Hualapai Tribe on sovereign tribal land. Home to the Skywalk. Sets its own prices, and does not accept federal passes.
These two are roughly 4.5 hours' drive apart and not affiliated. Your National Park pass does not work at Grand Canyon West, and Grand Canyon West tickets do not work at the National Park. Every pricing mistake further down this page traces back to this one fact.
Other Las Vegas Day Experiences You Might Enjoy
Admission is only part of a day at the canyon. From Las Vegas you are also within reach of the Hoover Dam, the Colorado River, the glass Skywalk at Eagle Point, Guano Point and Hualapai Ranch at Grand Canyon West, and helicopter flights that land on the canyon floor. Browse well-reviewed options below if you are still deciding how to structure the day.
South Rim Fees — 2025/26
All passes are valid for 7 consecutive days and cover both the South and North Rims. The park is cashless — cards only.
| Pass | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Private vehicle | $35 | Covers everyone in the vehicle (up to 15 passengers) |
| Motorcycle | $30 | |
| Individual (foot or bike) | $20/person | Age 16+; under 16 free |
| Grand Canyon Annual Pass | $70 | Grand Canyon only, 1 year |
| America the Beautiful (resident) | $80 | All federal lands, 1 year |
| America the Beautiful (non-resident) | $250 | New 2026 tier |
| Senior Annual | $20 | U.S. residents 62+ |
| Senior Lifetime | $80 | U.S. residents 62+ |
| Military / Access / 4th Grade | Free | Eligibility required |
The $100 Non-Resident Surcharge
Each non-U.S. resident aged 16 and over must pay an additional $100 per person to enter Grand Canyon National Park. It stems from Executive Order 14314, signed on 3 July 2025, and applies at the 11 most-visited national parks.
It is not waived on fee-free days, and it does not apply at Grand Canyon West. For an international family of four, that is $400 on top of the $35 vehicle fee — and $0 at the West Rim. It is the strongest single financial argument for choosing Hualapai land over the national park.
2026 NPS fee-free days: 16 February, 25 May, 14 June, 3–5 July, 25 August, 17 September, 27 October and 11 November. These waive the standard entrance fee only — not the non-resident surcharge, and not anything at Grand Canyon West.
West Rim & Skywalk Fees — 2025/26
Two tiers, priced per person, plus tax. The difference between them is the Skywalk.
| Ticket | Price | Includes Skywalk? |
|---|---|---|
| General Admission | $67 + tax | No |
| All-Access Pass | $99 + tax | Yes |
General Admission — $67
Hop-on/hop-off shuttle, all viewpoints (Eagle Point, Guano Point and Hualapai Point), walking trails, Hualapai cultural tours, exhibits and live performances. Does not include the Skywalk.
All-Access Pass — $99
Everything in General Admission plus the Skywalk, one zipline ride, unlimited arcade play, a $10 meal voucher and a $10 merchandise voucher. Roughly $113 with taxes.
Children: up to two kids aged 5–12 go free with each paid adult All-Access Pass — on-site purchase only. Children under 5 are always free. National Park passes are not valid here. Parking at the Welcome Center is free, and no private vehicles are permitted past it — the shuttle is how you move between viewpoints. Full detail in our West Rim guide.
Skywalk-Specific Pricing
The Skywalk Comes Bundled Into a Pass
There is no standalone Skywalk-only ticket. Historically there were: standalone tickets and the "Legacy" package names were retired around winter 2023–24, and the current structure replaced them. The $99 All-Access Pass is the main route onto the glass, and with taxes it comes to roughly $113.
It is not quite the only route, though. Grand Canyon West also sells a Sunset Pass — later entry, Skywalk included, and cheaper than the All-Access Pass. Our Skywalk tickets and prices guide covers it in detail. What you cannot do is buy the Skywalk on its own.
If you arrive on $67 General Admission and change your mind at Eagle Point, you are upgrading at the gate rather than buying a separate Skywalk ticket — which is why it is worth deciding before you travel. Our complete Skywalk guide covers the phone policy, the glass, and whether it is worth it.
How to Save Money
The savings that actually exist at each rim, and what they are worth.
At the South Rim
Carpool. The $35 fee covers the whole vehicle, which splits to roughly $9 per person for four — the single biggest lever at the national park.
America the Beautiful at $80 breaks even after about 2.3 visits to $35-fee parks, so it pays for itself by the third park on a road trip.
Use the 2026 fee-free days if you are a U.S. resident, and buy in advance to skip the entrance lines.
At the West Rim
The kids-free promotion. Up to two children aged 5–12 go free with each paid adult All-Access Pass — for a family of four with two children in that band, that is real money.
Seasonal promotions. Watch for Father's Day buy-one-get-one offers and similar deals.
Guided tours bundle admission, and once rental-car costs are counted they are sometimes cheaper than self-driving.
Full Day-Trip Cost Breakdowns
Four realistic ways to reach the canyon from Las Vegas, costed end to end.
Self-Drive to the West Rim, with Skywalk
Fuel for the roughly 260-mile round trip: $30–$40. Parking: free. All-Access Pass: ~$113 with tax.
Solo: ~$120 per person. A group of four splitting fuel: ~$75 per person.
Self-Drive to the South Rim
Fuel for the roughly 560-mile round trip from Vegas: $60–$70. Vehicle entry: $35.
A couple: ~$80 total. A family of four: ~$50 per person. Non-U.S. residents must add $100 each.
Guided Bus Tour to the West Rim, with Skywalk
Roughly $179–$229 all-in, with admission, transport and usually meals bundled. No rental car, no driving, no parking.
Helicopter to the West Rim, with Skywalk
$600–$800+ per person. The premium buys the flight, not better canyon access — see our helicopter tour price breakdown.
West Rim vs South Rim: Cost Comparison
| Factor | South Rim | West Rim |
|---|---|---|
| Base price | $35/vehicle | $67/person |
| Skywalk | Not available | $99/person (All-Access) |
| Distance from Las Vegas | ~280 mi / 4.5 hrs | ~128 mi / 2.5 hrs |
| National Park pass valid? | Yes | No |
| 2026 non-resident $100 surcharge | Yes | No |
| Skywalk / zipline | No | Yes |
Read across the bottom three rows and the Las Vegas case makes itself: the West Rim is closer, carries no federal surcharge, and is the only one of the two with a Skywalk. The South Rim wins on raw canyon depth and on price per head for a car full of U.S. residents. Our full rim comparison weighs the view rather than the receipt.
Common Pricing Mistakes
Assuming a Park Pass Works at the West Rim
It does not. This is the most common and most expensive assumption on the entire trip — you arrive holding an $80 pass and still owe $99 per person.
Trying to Buy a Standalone Skywalk Ticket
It no longer exists. The Skywalk is bundled into a pass — usually the $99 All-Access Pass, or the cheaper later-entry Sunset Pass — never sold on its own.
Forgetting the Extras
There is a $20 minimum spend to use the meal and merchandise vouchers, plus tips. The vouchers are worth $10 each but do not function as cash.
Not Budgeting the $100 Surcharge
Non-U.S. residents heading to the South Rim in 2026 owe $100 each on top of everything else. Visiting the West Rim avoids it entirely.
How to Buy Tickets
- West Rim / Skywalk: grandcanyonwest.com is the recommended channel, or buy on site at the Welcome Center. Remember the kids-free promotion is on-site purchase only.
- South Rim: at the entrance stations (card only — the park is cashless), at the Tusayan IMAX, or on nps.gov/grca. The America the Beautiful pass is sold on recreation.gov.
- Tour operators typically bundle admission into the tour price, which is why a $179–$229 guided day trip is not as expensive as it first looks against a $113 pass.
Our Recommendations
Las Vegas Visitors → the West Rim
Buy the $99 All-Access Pass, not the $67 General Admission. If you have travelled this far, arriving at Eagle Point without Skywalk access is a false economy of $32.
Families → All-Access, and Bring the Kids
Up to two children aged 5–12 go free with each paid adult All-Access Pass. Two adults and two children in that age band pay for two passes, not four.
Multi-Park Road-Trippers → America the Beautiful
At $80 it pays for itself by the third park. It covers the South Rim — but not Grand Canyon West, and not the Skywalk.
Non-U.S. Residents → Strongly Consider the West Rim
It avoids the $100 surcharge outright. If you are committed to visiting several national parks, the $250 non-resident annual pass is the one to compare against.
West Rim prices are quoted plus tax and fees — roughly $113 all-in for the $99 pass. Prices change seasonally; always confirm on the official sites before booking.
Vegas to Grand Canyon West, Hoover Dam & Skywalk Option, with Two Meals
The straightforward answer to everything on this page: West Rim admission is built into the tour price, so there is no gate maths to do on the day. A full-day run from Las Vegas with a Hoover Dam photo stop, two meals included, and the Skywalk available as an upgrade. Rated 4.8 / 5 from 3,697+ travellers.
- Round-trip coach transport from Las Vegas
- Grand Canyon West admission bundled into the fare
- Hoover Dam photo stop en route
- Two meals included; Skywalk available as an add-on
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure via GetYourGuide.
Check Availability & PricesFree cancellation · Instant confirmation
Grand Canyon Admission Fees: FAQ
How much does it cost to get into the Grand Canyon?
It depends which Grand Canyon. Grand Canyon National Park (South Rim) costs $35 per private vehicle for 7 days. Grand Canyon West, home of the Skywalk, costs $67 or $99 per person plus tax. They are separate destinations with separate ticketing.
Does my National Park pass work at the Grand Canyon Skywalk?
No. Grand Canyon West is owned and operated by the Hualapai Tribe on sovereign tribal land and is not part of Grand Canyon National Park. Federal passes are not accepted there, and Grand Canyon West tickets are not valid at the national park.
How much is a ticket to walk on the Skywalk?
The Skywalk is bundled into a pass rather than sold on its own. The $99 All-Access Pass plus tax — roughly $113 all-in — is the main ticket that includes it, and Grand Canyon West also sells a cheaper later-entry Sunset Pass that includes the Skywalk. The $67 General Admission does not include it, and there is no longer a standalone Skywalk-only ticket.
What is the difference between General Admission and the All-Access Pass?
General Admission at $67 covers the hop-on/hop-off shuttle, all three viewpoints, walking trails, Hualapai cultural tours, exhibits and live performances. The $99 All-Access Pass adds the Skywalk, one zipline ride, unlimited arcade play, a $10 meal voucher and a $10 merchandise voucher.
What is the $100 Grand Canyon surcharge for non-US residents?
From 1 January 2026, every non-US resident aged 16 and over pays an additional $100 per person to enter Grand Canyon National Park, stemming from Executive Order 14314 signed on 3 July 2025. It applies at 11 of the most-visited parks, is not waived on fee-free days, and does not apply at Grand Canyon West.
Do children pay admission at Grand Canyon West?
Up to two children aged 5 to 12 go free with each paid adult All-Access Pass, purchasable on site only. Children under 5 are always free.
Is the America the Beautiful pass worth buying for the Grand Canyon?
At $80 for US residents it breaks even after roughly 2.3 visits to $35-fee parks, so it pays for itself by the third park on a multi-park road trip. It covers the South Rim but not Grand Canyon West or the Skywalk.
What does a Grand Canyon day trip from Las Vegas actually cost?
Self-driving to the West Rim with the Skywalk works out around $120 per person solo, or about $75 each for a group of four splitting fuel. A guided bus tour with the Skywalk runs roughly $179 to $229 all-in, and a helicopter tour with the Skywalk is $600 to $800 or more per person.
Are the 2026 fee-free days useful at the Grand Canyon?
They waive the standard entrance fee at the national park on 16 February, 25 May, 14 June, 3 to 5 July, 25 August, 17 September, 27 October and 11 November 2026. They do not waive the $100 non-resident surcharge, and they do not apply at Grand Canyon West.
Where should I buy Grand Canyon West and Skywalk tickets?
Direct at grandcanyonwest.com, or on site at the Welcome Center. South Rim entry is bought at the entrance stations (card only, the park is cashless), at the Tusayan IMAX or on nps.gov/grca, and the America the Beautiful pass on recreation.gov. Guided tour operators normally bundle admission into the tour price.